Coring device



Sept. 24, 1957 L. l. LIPSCOMB CORING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March16, 1955 2 w 9 4 5 m w A, 4 F m NW AL Q 3 m Mli 1 p x v m m v 4 IN VENTOR.

Lindsey Lipscomb,

Sept. 24, 1957 v 1.. l. LIPSCOMB 2,307,439

' CORING DEVICE .Filed March 16, 1955 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 LINE T0 HAMMERFLEXIBLE HOSE OCEAN FLOO INO0MPE' TENT U4 TERIAL COMPETE/VT INTERIMLINVENTOR. L I'ndse'y I. L ipscoinb,

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United States Patent CORING DEVICE Lindsey I. Lipscomb, Houston, Tex.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and EngineeringCompany, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application March16, 1955, Serial No. 494,598 4 Claims. (Cl. 2551.4)

The present invention is directed to a device for obtaining a core at amarine location. More particularly, the invention is directed to adevice for obtaining a core from an earth interval below an incompetentearth interval. In its more specific aspects, the invention is directedto a core-taking apparatus which will allow the taking of a core fromsubmerged and partly submerged lands.

The present invention may be briefly described as a device for obtainingan earth core from a subsurface interval below an incompetent intervalwhich comprises an elongated tubular member provided with a cutting edgeon its lower end for cutting a core in the subsurface interval. Thetubular member has a lower section providing an elongated core barreland an upper section providing a chamber. Between the chamber and thecore barrel is a passageway of restricted cross-sectional area in whicha valve seat is provided. A spherical valve member may be introducedinto the tubular member to seat on the valve seat. Means are connectedto the upper end of the tubular member, such as a conduit forintroducing fluid which may be fresh or salt water and the like, intoand through the tubing member to wash the tubular member through theincompetent interval. Ar-' ranged on the exterior of the tubular memberintermediate the upper and lower ends thereof is an annular shoulder.

with an elongated core barrel 15. The lower end of the tubular member 14has a hardened and bevelled cutter edge 16 for cutting a core sample forentry into the core barrel 15.

. The lower section 14 has attached to its upper end by threads 49 avalve body 19 which, in turn, is connected to the lower end of section12 by threaded pins 17. Valve body 19 is provided with a passageway 18of restricted cross-sectional area provided with a valve seat 19 adaptedto receive a spherical valve member 20. Arranged on the exterior ofsection 12 of the tubular member 11 intermediate its upper and lowerends is an annular driving head or shoulder 21. Slidably mounted on thetubular member 11 and particularly on the. section 12 above shoulder 21is an annular hammer 22 provided with eyes 23 to which by means ofchains 24a wire lines or ropes 24 may be attached leading to the surfacefor reciprocating same.

Connected to the upper end of the tubular member 11 and communicatingfluidly with the chamber 13 through a connection 25 is a flexibleconduit 26. A connection member 27 provided with an eye 28 is arrangedon the upper end of the tubular member 11 to which a swivel 29 connectedto a wire line 30 is attached. The wire line 30, as shown particularlyin Fig. 3, passes over a sheave 31 in a hoisting means 32 and thenceover a sheave 33 to a hoisting reel or drum 34 powered by power means35.

The flexible hose 26 is connected to a pumping means 36 carried, likethe hoisting mechanism 35, by a marine vessel 37. The pump 36 has aninlet line conduit 38 which connects to a source of water, such as freshor salt water, and may be dropped over the side of the vessel 37 intothe body of water 39. A branch conduit 40 controlled by a valve 41 isprovided for introduction of the spherical valve member 20 intothepumping system.

Arranged. slidably on the tubular member above the an- The presentinvention is of particular utility in-marine 7 locations, swamps, partlysubmerged lands, and the like, wherein a stratum of mud or incompetentmaterial overlies the more competent earth structure, to determine thecharacteristics of the competent structure. It is necessary to core thecompetent material without contamina: tion of the incompetent materialor mud. The present invention is, therefore, of considerable utility inobtaining such core samples.

The present invention will be reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a partial sectional view of the upper portion of the assembledapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the lower portion of the assembledapparatus; and i Fig. 3 illustrates the mode of employing the apparatus.Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral11 designates an elongated tubular member comprised of a first section12, provided with an elongated chamber 13 and a second section 14provided further illustrated It is to be noted that the vessel 37 issuitably moored or anchored by mooring lines 42 which lead to anchors,not shown.

In employing the device illustrated in the drawing for securing a coresample at a prescribed depth below the mud line, the tubular member 11is assembled with the section 12 having a total length below the drivinghead or shoulder 21 equal to or slightly greater than the depth at whichit is desired to obtain a sample. Above the driving head or shoulder 21the portion of the section 12, which serves as a hammer-guide, is placedin position and theflexible conduit 26 and the wire line 30 areattached. A wire line or rope, such as 24, which may have a harness onthe lower end is attached to the hammer 22 by eyes 23. The section 14 isthen con nected to the lower end of the section 12 and the wholeassembly is lowered over the side of a marine vessel 37 or ofishoreplatform. Before the assembly reaches the bottom of the body of water,such as 39, the pump,

' such as 36, on the vessel 37 is started and a stream of water isforced out of the opening 45' in the lower end of the cutter 16. Thisforms a jet of water and provides a washing action. 7

By lowering the assembly at a proper rate, a hole is washed through theincompetent material which may be generally designated by the numeral 46to a point just above the stratum 47 which may also be incompetentmaterial of a greater resistance or strength than the incompetentmaterial in interval 46 but generally is a competent earth stratum. Inany event, the stratum 47 is desired to be sampled. At this point in theoperation, the pump is shut down, valve 41 in line 40 is opened, thespherical valve 20 is dropped into line 46, valve 41 is then closedandthe pump started up again. This forces the valve member 20 down throughconduit 26 and chamber 3 13 to seat on the seat 19 way 18 and the pumpis then shut off and valve 41 in line 40 is opened. The assembly is thenlowered to rest on the bottom of the washed out hole generallydesignated by the numeral 48. Tension is relaxed on the wire line whichslacks off to a slight degree butan 'in sufficient amount to allow thetubular memberll to depart from the vertical. Ordinarily, the rate ofwashing and penetrating, of the tubular member 11 may be properlycontrolled such that the diameter of the hole 48 will be such that theapparatus may rest against'the wall of the hole without deviatingsubstantially from the vertical. Any tendency of the tubular member 11to topple is reduced by not having a greater length of "the section 11below the driving head 21 than is necessary to reach the depth of sampledesired. With the assembly resting on the bottom of the washed hole48jand tension on the main wire line 30 slacked off, penetration of theassembly into soil 47 is achieved'by raising and dropping the hammer 22by raising and lowering'the "line 24fto cause reciprocation of thehammer 22 onthe section 12. This produces a driving eflfect and causesthe assembly to penetrate the formation 47. I

Measurement of penetration of the 'washing'out and driving operations ismade by means of gradua'tions'on the wire line 30, These graduations aregenerally indicated ,by the numeral 50. Similarly, graduations may beprovided on the line 24 as may be desired.

As thecutting head or edge 16 of tubular member 14 is driven into theformation by the hammer 22, the core is forced up into core barrel" 15;With the valve 41 of line 40 open, the water in the assembly above theincoming core is allowed to escape through line 40. During the hammeringoperation the ball valve 20 opens and closes by being moved off and onits seat 19 as the water is pushed ahead of the entering core. The ballvalve 20 prevents the core from being blown out if the fluid line abovewere pressurized'such as by the pump being accidentally started, Attimes the core may be driven into the core barrel tight enough toeliminate the danger of its slipping out when the assembly is raised offbottom. However, if the core were loose and began to slip down in thecore barrel, the suction created above the core would cause ball valve20 to seat snugly against the seat and tightly close the passage '18.With the chamber immediately above the core sample closed, the initialslippage downwardly of the core creates a vacuum within the core barrelabove the core and prevents any further downward movementof the core.

After the core sample has been obtained by the combined washing outanddriving operation, the assembly is raised by the .wire line 30 to thevessel 37, which may be of offshore platform. The assembly is thendisconnected by releasing the threaded pin 17 and slipping the neck 1421out of the valve body 19. The section 14 can then be unscrewed from thevalve body 19, the core removed and the ball valve 20 recovered forfuture use. Thereafter, the section 12 may be lengthened for the nextdepth of sampling and another section, such as 14,

provided with a core barrel attached and the operation repeated.

From the foregoing brief description, it will beseen that I haveprovided a new and readily'usable device for obtaining samples in marinelocations and where incompetent formations overlie, a competent earthstructure.

The apparatus has been used successfully in obtaining a core sample fromdepths of 30 feet and more below the ocean bottom offshore from thecoasts of California and Texas.

As exemplary only of the device of the present invention, the section'lZabove the shoulder 21 may beapproximately 8 feet in length while thesection, 12 below the shoulder 21 may have a lengthin the range fromabout i to about 25 feet. The core barrel sectiongenerally indicated by,the numeral 14 may have an overall length This closes ofi thepassageincluding the cutter 16 of approximately, 30 inches while thechamber 15 may have an effective length of about 24 inches.

A hammer, such as 22, of about 300 pounds weight may suitably beemployed. The inside diameter of the chamber 13 and core barrel 15 maybe from about 2 to 3 inches although other diameters may suitably beused.

Under some occasions, it may be desirable to dispense with the valvemember 20 when it is unnecessary to maintain the core sample clean orfree from contact with water. Under these circumstances, it may bedesirable to provide a core catcher in the lower end of the chamber 15.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated what I wish to claim as new and useful and tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for obtaining an earth core from subsurface interval belowan incompetent interval, which comprises anelongated tubular memberprovided with a cutting edge on its lowerend for'cutting a core in'saidsubsurface interval, said tubular member having a lower sectionproviding an'elongated core barrel and an upper section providing achamber, said tubular member having a passageway of restrictedcross-sectional area between the-chamber and the core barrel, an annularvalve seat arranged in said restricted passageway, means connected tothe upper end of said tubular member for in troducing fluid into andthrough said tubular member to wash said tubular member through saidincompetent interval, means connected to said fluid introducing meansfor inserting a valve member into said tubular member toseat on saidvalve seat and close off said passage'against downward flowtherethrough, an annular shoulder on the tubular member intermediate theupper and lower ends thereof, an annular hammer member slidably arrangedon the tubular member above the annular shoulder and adapted to strikethe annular shoulder to drive said tubular member into the subsurfaceinterval when the hammer member is reciprocated on the tubular member,means connected to the tubular member for lowering and raising saidtubular "member, and means attached to the hammer member forreciprocating same.

2. A device for obtaining an earth core from a subsurface interval belowan incompetent interval at a marine location, which comprisesanelongated tubular member provided with a cutting edge 'on its lowerend for cutting acore in said subsurface interval, said tubular memherhaving a lower section providing an elongated core barrel, and an uppersection providing a chamber, said tubular member having a passageway ofrestricted crosssectional area between the chamber and the core barrel,a valve seatin said passageway adapted to receive a valve member toclose said passageway against flow downwardly therethrough, a conduitconnected to the upper end of said tubular member for introducing fluidinto and through said tubular member to wash said tubular member throughsaid incompetent interval, pumping means connected to said conduit, aspherical valve member insertable in said tubular member and seatable onsaid valve seat; means connected to said conduit between said tubularmember and said pumping means for inserting said spherical valve memberinto said conduit whereby said spherical valve member is pumpable tosaid valve seat'to close off said passageway against downward flowtherethrough,an annular shoulder positioned on the tubular memberintermediatetheupper andlower ends thereof, an annular hammer memberslidably arranged on the tubular member above the annular shoulder andadapted to strike the annular shoulder to drive said tubular member intothe subsurface interval when the hammer member is reciprocated on thetubular member, means connected to the tubular member for lowering andraising said tubular member, and means attached to the hammer member forreciprocating same.

3. Adevice in accordance Withclaim 2 in which the 5 6 lowering andraising means and the reciprocating means References Cited in the fileof this patent are separate lines manipulated from the marine location.UNITED STATES PATENTS 4. A device in accordance with claim 1 in whichthe 1 866 4 Simmons uly 12 1932 l Owemlg and ralslng means a d thereciprocating means 2,342253 Cooley Feb. 22, 1944 t 1' 1 d f are Selma emes manlpu ate mm the marine IOQMIOB 5 2,665,885 Glgnoux Jan. 1954

